An inside take a look at Sunday’s Jets-Texans Week 14 matchup at MetLife Stadium:
Marquee matchup
Jets WR Garrett Wilson vs. Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.
It’s unlikely that Stingley will comply with Wilson, however let’s hope to see these two go head-to-head usually on this sport.
Stingley, who was the No. 3-overall choose in 2022, is having a powerful second season.
He has 4 interceptions in his previous three video games and is changing into the participant Houston envisioned when it drafted him.
Wilson was large open a number of occasions final week, however Tim Boyle did not get him the ball.
It has been an exasperating yr for Wilson, who was the No. 10 choose in 2022, coping with poor quarterback play and no different receiver capable of take the stress off him.
Regardless of the struggles, Wilson nonetheless has 67 catches for 745 yards and three touchdowns.
“I’ve recognized Sting for some time, performed towards him,” Wilson mentioned. “The identical factor that he’s at all times delivered to the desk. He’s an incredible ball hawk. He is aware of the place the ball is and he’s going to make a play on the ball.
“Nice in his method, he watched movie and is aware of what to anticipate. I’m excited to see him, to start with, and I’m excited to go up towards him. He’s an incredible participant, nice dude, and like C.J. [Stroud], he’s getting all the pieces that deserves proper now.”
Costello’s name
This must be a good matchup for the Jets since their protection can decelerate C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ offense, however how can anybody have any religion within the Jets’ offense at this level? Zach Wilson’s return won’t clear up what’s fallacious with this offense.
Texans 20, Jets 13
4 downs
Say it Stroud: It seems just like the Texans have hit the quarterback lottery with C.J. Stroud, whom they drafted No. 2 total final spring.
He leads the NFL with 3,540 passing yards this season and is on tempo to shatter the rookie report.
He has thrown 20 touchdowns to simply 5 interceptions and can present the Jets protection with a check.
“He’s a really distinctive younger quarterback,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich mentioned. “He’s a man I actually want we’d have performed Week 1-4 when he was nonetheless making an attempt to determine this sport. I do know the knocks that have been on him popping out, I’ve not seen any of that. I’ve seen a man that could be a high-level processer, fast choice maker, sees the sector approach higher than you suppose a rookie would, and an enormous a part of that’s simply his poise.”
Backup blues: The Jets are turning again to Zach Wilson after going 0-2 with Tim Boyle.
Whereas the Texans are thriving with Stroud, the Jets are in backup quarterback hell.
NFL groups are 30-57 this season with backup quarterback beginning or taking part in no less than 30 p.c of a sport.
Wilson is definitely second amongst backup quarterbacks with 4 wins this season. Gardner Minshew with the Colts is 7-3.
Jets coach Robert Saleh was requested about how Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has benefitted from the group hitting on Stroud whereas he continues to cycle by quarterbacks.
“The steadiness on the quarterback place, we’re at all times chasing it, however I’ll go away that subject for you guys,” Saleh mentioned.
Previous associates: Saleh coached Texans coach Ryans when Ryans was a Houston participant in 2006-10, when Saleh was a younger assistant in Houston.
Saleh then employed Ryans in San Francisco to start his teaching profession.
Ryans changed Saleh as defensive coordinator with the 49ers in 2021 after Saleh left to turn into the Jets head coach.
Now, they face off towards one another.
“I discovered the best way to coach from being beneath Saleh,” Ryans mentioned this week. “He taught me so much in relation to scheme when it got here to simply dealing with gamers, sport planning. So, I discovered so much from Saleh and owe so much to him, and that’s most likely the explanation why I’m standing right here earlier than you. Due to him simply taking me beneath his wing.”
Going streaking: A loss on Sunday will lengthen some ignominious streaks for the Jets.
It could be their ninth lack of the season, locking up their eighth straight shedding season.
This was the yr they have been purported to snap the dangerous mojo that has been across the group since 2016, however the Aaron Rodgers damage in Week 1 blew up the season once more.
This additionally can be the sixth straight loss.
It could be the nineteenth time in franchise historical past the Jets misplaced six video games in a row.
You don’t must go far again to seek out the final time it occurred.
They ended final season on a six-game shedding streak.
The franchise report is 13, in 2020.